North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un has been seen in public for the first time in more than five weeks, scotching rumours of a coup.

State media said early on Tuesday, local time, that Mr Kim visited a residential district and a scientific establishment.

The failure of Mr Kim to appear on TV since September 3rd has led to a mass of speculation about what could have happened to the 31-year-old.

Most North Korea watchers believed that the leader's absence from the public eye was because he was suffering from illness.

But others suspected that power struggles at the heart of one of the most secretive regimes in the world was the explanation.

The report from the official KCNA news agency did not touch on the leader's prolonged absence from public view. His last public appearance was to attend a concert with his wife.

Since then he has missed a key political anniversary and a recent session of the country's parliament.

The report - typical of the way the state media discusses Mr Kim's activities - said he "gave field guidance" to workers at a new facility called Wisong Scientists Residential District.

It added that he also visited the newly-built Natural Energy Institute of the State Academy of Sciences. It is not known on which day the visit was made.

Mr Kim was quoted as saying: "Our scientists are patriots who are devoting all their lives to building a rich and powerful nation."

Among the conditions he has been rumoured to be suffering from are gout, obesity, a pulled tendon and fractured ankles.

His country's state news agency admitted he was suffering "discomfort" but has not elaborated.

Diplomatic sources had already ruled out a coup, as there has been no evidence that one had taken place - but it is thought feasible that his sister could have been in charge if Mr Kim had been too ill to rule.

He has been seen in these photographs, released by North Korean state media.